Giorgos Giakoumakis was not in the right frame of mind to turn out for Celtic against Morton in the Scottish Cup, Ange Postecoglou has revealed.
The Greek frontman has been the subject of increased transfer speculation in recent weeks with the likes of Sampdoria and Japanese side Urawa Red Diamonds rumoured to be interested.
It remains to be seen where the striker will end up, but his current manager Postecoglou felt the need to leave him out of his squad at Parkhead on Saturday lunchtime.
He explained: "He had that little niggle. He trained on Friday but it's fair to say there is a fair bit going on with him in the background as well and my view is that it's not just about the physical but the mental too.
"I had a good chat with him and until he gets some clarity about what's happening with him, I think as well as the physical stuff I thought it was better to leave him out.”
Postecoglou was also full of praise for Josip Juranovic who looks set to depart Celtic and sign for Bundesliga outfit Union Berlin.
He continued: "He's been given permission to travel and he'll have a medical with Union Berlin. I assume that if all goes well then he'll move.
"I think he's been fantastic, I've loved working with Josip. He's been a really popular member of the dressing room, he's been a key contributor last year to what was a very, very important season, in the context of what had happened the season before.
"The fact we had to rebuild the team and get back to where we wanted to be in terms of champions then he was a key component of that. With all of the lads, I'm constantly in dialogue with them about themselves and their careers and people have to appreciate Josip is 28-years-old but he hasn't really got to the highest level until late in his career.
"I think he just wants to maximise his opportunities, to be honest, I agree with him. That's what all of us have in our careers, a limited time and we want to take opportunities.
"He leaves here as a fantastic player and as somebody who contributed to what was a really important season for us. I certainly wish him well and I hope he goes over there and kills it. He's very well respected within our dressing room and will be missed but that is the nature of football.”
On the fee involved in the transfer, Postecoglou said: "I said at the AGM we have just got to be really agile and aggressive in the transfer market if we want to make the gains we want to make.
"I get that it is unsettling and disconcerting, particularly for our supporters, because they love these players, and I totally understand that.
"But my role is to try to make decisions that I think are best for us and our continued growth as a football team, and realising when an opportunity comes along we have to be ready to take it.
"That's what we have done with Josip. I don't think there needs to be winners and losers out of this.
"I can't question Josip's contribution, he has been fantastic. Josip has absolutely loved his time here and he will remember it fondly and he gets an opportunity to do further things in his career and for his family.”
Asked about potential incomings, Postecoglou comically added: “We are progressing things and there is only a week to go whilst we continue this weekly dance we do.
“The lights are dimming and the last song is about to be played and we can all go home and have a nice lie down. But everything will happen in the next couple of days hopefully.”
